There are Vacuum Attachments for That

vacuum attachments

As a rule, you should be vacuuming your carpet, area rugs and upholstery once a week with a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filtrated vacuum cleaner. Vacuum two to three times per week if you get a lot of foot traffic or have pets. Use vacuum attachments to clean hard-to-reach areas and stairs. Combine with regular carpet cleaning and upholstery cleaning.

Standard Vacuum Attachments

Most vacuum cleaners include these accessories in the box.

Extension Wand: Add 18-inches to the vacuum hose to reach high, low, and hard-to-reach places (e.g., ceiling fans, light fixtures, air vents, and under furniture). Its long length prevents muscle strain and fatigue. Extension wands can be paired with other tubes or attachments – just fasten it to the wand and go.

Upholstery Tool: Dust, pet hair and lint cling to upholstery fibers, which can be difficult to get off without the proper tools. Enter the upholstery cleaning attachment! From four to six inches wide, this tool directs a band of suction over dusty cushions to effectively, and efficiently clean them. Works on mattresses and carpeted stairs as well.

Crevice Tool: The angled tip of this 8- to 12-inch long tool makes picking up dirt and debris from hard-to-reach places easy. Slide it along baseboards, between vents and seat cushions, and in other tight spots. You can also use this attachment to clean the dryer lint trays; dryer exhaust vents should be inspected and cleaned annually as well.

Dusting Brush: Inch-long bristles surround the opening of this round or rectangular shaped tool, providing gentle abrasion to dislodge and pick up dust particles. Its soft bristles won’t scratch surfaces. Use it on leather furniture, lampshades, window treatments, baseboards, furniture, or on the dashboard of your car.

Floor Sweeper: Vacuum wood and tile floors in overlapping rows with this go-to tool. The soft, half-inch bristles, along with the vacuums’ powerful suction pick up dirt, crumbs, and pet hair while the center picks up larger debris. Floor sweepers typically feature wheels or a swivel head, making it easy to maneuver around a room.

Add-On Vacuum Attachments

These can be purchased à la carte at retailers and online.

Turbo Brush: With a swivel head, rotating bristles, and a compact size the turbo brush attachment is useful for cleaning stairs without the need to lug the vacuum up every step. Some have rubber parts to better grab and remove pet hair that clings to upholstered furniture. Can also be used for cleaning car interiors.

Car-Cleaning Nozzle: This is the same nozzle you use at do-it-yourself car washes. Simply attach it to your vacuum hose and use it to clean the upholstery and in between all the corners of your car. Can also be used in the house for cleaning upholstery, mattresses, and stairs.

Pet Grooming Tool: If you have fur-babies, you may want to consider adding this attachment to your arsenal of grooming supplies. This comb is meant to help make your pet’s hair soft and, when attached to your vacuum, ensure pet hair doesn’t get all over the house … if your pet doesn’t freak out at the sound of the vacuum that is.

Spring Cleaning

Leave a reply

spring cleaning

Beautiful temperatures outdoors, flowers blooming everywhere, and sunlight streaming through your windows can mean only one thing – that spring’s arrival is quickly approaching. Spring cleaning is an annual tradition that provides us with the perfect opportunity to freshen up our homes and, when completed early enough, allow us to enjoy the great outdoors before summer’s triple-digit temperatures draw closer.

Follow our simple spring cleaning guide to get your home sparkling in no time.

Declutter

Spring is the perfect time to rid your home of the “stuff” you can live without. Decluttering also makes the act of cleaning your home a lot easier. Label three boxes or bags with donate, sell, and trash. Going room by room, sort through the clutter, filling your collection boxes/bags with items your family has outgrown or no longer needs. If you’re unsure about an item, ask yourself:

Do I love it?
Do I need it?
When was the last time I used it?
Do I own/need duplicates of the same item?

Clean Air Vents

To start, turn off your heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system. Remove all floor, ceiling, and return air vents using a Phillips head screwdriver as needed. Next, place them all in a bathtub filled with few drops of dish soap, and let soak for about 10 minutes. Using a scrub brush, give each vent a good washing, making sure to rinse thoroughly. Dry completely before reinstalling the vents and turning your system on. You may also want to consider professional air duct cleaning.

Wipe Down the Walls

Walls get dirty – especially in homes with kids or pets. Cleaning them at least once a year is key to keeping your house sparkling. It’s a good idea to vacuum the walls using a brush attachment before wiping down. To keep from damaging your walls, use a mixture of warm water and dishwashing liquid for light smudges, or mix together a cup of ammonia, ½ cup of white vinegar, and a ¼ cup of baking soda for tough-to-remove dirt and grime. Start at the top of wall and wipe the agent on with a sponge or soft cloth. Be sure to dry the wall thoroughly as you go to prevent streaking.

Steam Clean Carpeting

Along with regular vacuuming, it’s important to have your carpets professionally steamed cleaned every six to twelve months, depending on the number of household members and if you have any pets. There are several advantages to steam cleaning, including destroying bacteria, deodorizing the carpet, and controlling allergens. You may also want to consider professional upholstery cleaning and/or tile and grout cleaning.

Game Winning Party Tips

Leave a reply

game winning party tips

The big game is just three days away!

Even if your home team isn’t playing, chances are you plan to tune in along with the rest of America to watch the biggest game of the season on Sunday, along with can’t-miss ads and the Justin Timberlake halftime show. Go the distance by hosting a game winning party with tips taken straight out of our own playbook.

Clean

The Saturday before the game, disinfect the remote control(s), gently vacuum the speakers, and free the TV of any smudges. Using two parts water to two parts white vinegar, applied to a microfiber cloth, gently buff out any spots on the TV. Vacuum your carpet and upholstered furniture using a HEPA-filtration model.

Seating

Football fans will be glued to the TV, so it’s a good idea to create a comfortable game-viewing environment by arranging furniture in a semicircle facing the screen, and tossing throw pillows, along with comfy floor cushions anywhere someone may want to take a seat. Center a coffee table – protected with Kraft paper – between the seating area for snack attacks.

The Spread

What game-viewing party would be complete without lots of food? Some classic game-watching foods include bite sized potato skins, football deviled eggs, buffalo chicken stuffed French bread, chips and salsa (and/or queso), hot wings, and chili dogs. Make sure to watch for any dishes that may need replenishing throughout the game.

All in the Details

A little decorating can go a long way. String a printable football banner over your fireplace (if applicable) or in another suitable location. Paint mason jars in the competing team’s colors or with a football motif for game day ready mugs that can be used to hold straws and disposable utensils.

Games for the Win!

Pump up the fun with football-themed party games. Score big points with predict the game, football bingo, and bean bag throws. Another good idea is to set up a photo booth complete with football-themed props, such as paper helmets, “Here for the Commercials” or “#MyTeamIsBetter” talk bubbles, and footballs.

New Year’s Resolutions for Your Home

Leave a reply

New Year’s Resolutions

Year after year, Americans resolve to improve their health, happiness or finances. While setting New Year’s resolutions are certainly a great way to make a positive change (or two) in your life, most of us unfortunately renege on them before we’re rewarded. One problem is that we’re setting our goals too high. If you want to reach a big goal, first you’ll have to set a small one, such as simplifying your home.

In fact, when setting your resolutions for 2018, there’s no better place to start than with your home. This year, resolve to declutter, organize and clean your home. There is a lot of value to reaching this goal: A clean home is healthier, fosters calm, supports productivity, saves money, and gives you a sense of accomplishment. Once you’ve checked this goal off your list, you can move further down the list, one goal at a time.

Here are a few New Year’s resolutions for your home and how to achieve them.

Streamline the Clutter

One of the absolute best things you can do in the new year is to clear your home of clutter. Going room-by-room, clear anything that you don’t use, wear or love. You should also clear anything you have duplicates of. Your choices are then to trash it, donate it to charity or sell it. The latter can help with the goal of saving more money. Free your countertops of everything you don’t use on daily basis, as well.

Breathe Easy with Clean Carpet

Want to breathe a little easier?

Vacuum your carpet and, if applicable, area rugs once a week – at minimum. It’s also a good idea to schedule professional cleanings anywhere from 6 to 18 months depending on traffic. Carpet serves as a natural filter for allergens and bacteria, but over time they can be filled up, making them less effective. Professional carpet cleaning can renew your carpet, ensuring a healthier home.

Additionally, you may want to consider scheduling professional upholstery cleaning on a regular basis. Most carpet cleaning companies also clean and condition leather furniture. Industry experts recommended cleaning your upholstered furniture once per year, at minimum. This will keep it looking and smelling like new.

Schedule a Weekly Cleaning Routine

Daily: Bed is made every morning; dishes go in the dishwasher after every meal; countertops and table(s) are wiped down every night; and dirty clothes go in the hamper and jackets are hung – no excuses. Sweep kitchen floors and do laundry, as needed. Put everything back in its assigned place.

Weekly: Clean your entire house. We’ve broken this down into the following easy tasks:

Clean mirrors
Change bedding
Toss expired food
Vacuum carpet and area rugs
Mop tiled/hard surface flooring
Scrub bathroom and kitchen surfaces
Wipe down kitchen appliances; cleaning the inside of the microwave

Tip: Keep cleaning products, as well as rubber gloves and clean microfiber cloths, in a portable carryall that moves with you from room to room. For optimum efficiency, focus on one room, and one surface at a time.

Holiday Decorating Ideas to Bring Joy to Your Home

Leave a reply

holiday decorating ideas

The holiday tree is just the start. Spread joy throughout the house with these holiday decorating ideas, brought to you from your friends at Carpet Cleaning Service AZ. In need of professional deep cleaning before your friends and family arrive? Don’t hesitate to give our team a call at (602) 633-2015.

Make Your Own Holiday Wreath

Hanging a wreath on your front door spreads good cheer to everyone who visits. Wreaths can also be hung on walls, above doorways, and in windows. This year, instead of buying a pre-made wreath from your local craft store, why not make your own? Pinterest offers some great ideas. To make your own, you can use:

bows
bells
lights
ribbon
extra ornaments
natural elements, such as pine cones
miniature holiday villages and/or figurines
and just about anything else you can think of

Embrace Different Color Schemes

Red and green aren’t the only way to decorate. Shake things up (in a good way!) by choosing a new color palette this holiday season. Red and white, gold and white, silver and pale blue are all popular choices. Can’t decide on one or two colors? Try several! There really are no hard rules when it comes to holiday color schemes. You’re free to have as much fun with colors as you’d like.

Make a Hot Cocoa Bar

During the holidays, there’s nothing quite like a delicious, warm cup of hot chocolate. Set out mugs and toppings like mini marshmallows, candy canes, chocolate syrup and sprinkles, and whipped cream so your family and guests can create this ultimate holiday treat. Here’s a recipe for decadent slow cooker hot chocolate that we love. Decorate the bar using homemade signs or banners.

Hang Garland Everywhere

Hang garland (fresh, faux or both) with Command hooks to lend cheer to banisters, mantels, windows, and doorways. Add a festive touch by cutting extra-long strips of wide ribbon, tied into bows, and attached to the garland about three feet apart. Garland can be used indoors or out. Another great idea for decorating is holiday swag. Swag can be hung from porch lights, on walls and doors, and in windows.

Add Some Whimsical Touches

Like with all decorating, the details are everything. Consider adding some more whimsical touches to your space, such as with homemade signs or old-fashioned sleigh bells. The latter can be attached to your front doorknob. Strings of LED lights can be added to the walls or banisters. To add ambiance and glow, fill glass mason jars with fairy lights, and place on any surface. The key here is to make your space look inviting.

Happy Holidays!

~ From our family to yours.

How to Get Your Home Ready for the Holidays

Leave a reply

The holidays are upon us!

Whether serving dinner or hosting friends and family overnight, the key to getting your house ready for the holidays is to start as early as possible, so that you can get back to what matters most; enjoying your time with loved ones.

Cut the Clutter

The holidays are the perfect time for decluttering. By making space for winter clothes, decorations, holiday cards and gifts now, you’ll feel less overwhelmed and more engaged later. Going from one room to the next, purge, donate or sell items that are broken, including decorations and lights; things you have no use for or are tired of; items that you have too many of; and anything you haven’t used in quite some time.

Decorate Your Front Door

Your guests’ holiday experience begins at the front door. Create an inviting holiday entrance using greenery, tasteful lights, and a seasonal mat. Make your door look extra festive with vintage finds, pinecones or branches, and ornaments. Pinterest has some great ideas for decorating both your front door and porch for the holidays.

Prepare the Guest Rooms

Make your guests feel welcome by taking the time to tidy up the guest room and bathroom. Launder your guest linens and towels. Stock up on toiletries for your guest bathroom. Make a place card or piece of artwork with your Wi-Fi password, just to make things a little easier.

Clean the Fridge and Oven

Do you plan on cooking a holiday feast? Start by clearing out and deep cleaning the refrigerator and oven. Additionally, it’s a good idea to plan your menu, ensuring you have all the ingredients you’ll need on hand. Some dishes, such as vegetables and desserts can be prepped the day before, thus saving you time in the kitchen.

Have Your Carpets Professionally Steamed Cleaned

Now’s a great time to call a professional carpet cleaning company to steam clean your carpet, area rugs, and/or upholstered furniture. Other professional cleaning services to consider include tile and grout cleaning Phoenix, and drapery or blind cleaning. It’s a good idea to call and schedule service as early as possible.

Halloween How-to: Remove Ghastly Stains

Leave a reply

If you think everyday carpet stains are scary, wait until you see the ghastly Halloween stains costumed ghosts, witches and yes, even fairy tale princesses and superheroes ready for battle are likely to drag in one week from today.

Save your carpets this Halloween by preparing yourself for even the most ghastly of all pumpkin spills, makeup stains and in-bedded candy this year by utilizing the following carpet stain removal tricks. But first a little history on the origins of Halloween.

The History of Halloween

A time for celebration and superstition, Halloween is said to have originated from the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced sow-in), where people would dress in costume and light bonfires to ward off roaming ghosts.

The tradition of trick-or-treating while dressed in costume dates to the turn of the century. It was during this time that family-friendly, community-centered Halloween parties featuring entertainment, games and food became common place.

Since this time, Halloween has become so popular that the National Retail Federation (NPR) predicts shoppers will spend a record breaking 9.1 billion on costumes, apples for bobbing and decorations for throwing a spooky Halloween party.

Spending includes:

$3.4 billion on costumes
$2.7 billion on candy
$2.7 billion on decorations
$410 million on greeting cards

The federation also reports that the five most popular costumes for children this year are action/superhero; batman; fairy tale princess; spider-man; and an animal (cat, dog, monkey or another animal). Pets will be dressed up, as well.

Tricks to Remove Ghastly Stains

Here are some tricks for removing ghastly stains on carpet:

Trick #1: Remove as much of the foreign material as possible by gently blotting the area with a clean, non-patterned towel or if solid, scrapping it with a rounded spoon.

Trick #2: Apply rubbing alcohol to the area using a clean cloth. Agitate gently, then rinse with warm water, and blot dry. Be careful not to penetrate the carpet pile as this may cause damage.

Trick #3: Apply a small amount of diluted dishwashing liquid; one teaspoon per pint of warm water works best. Gently agitate the affected area by blotting with another clean, non-patterned towel. Rinse with warm water.

Trick #4: If stains persist, repeat the application of rubbing alcohol (if needed, you can also switch to hydrogen peroxide), and dishwashing liquid until the spill no longer transfers over to the towel. Be patient: Several applications may be necessary to see an improvement in the affected area.

Trick #5: When all else fails, or your carpet requires special treatment, you may want to consider calling for reinforcement in the form of professional carpet cleaning superheroes.

Happy haunting!

Fall Allergies: How to Avoid Them

Leave a reply

fall allergies

This post has been updated for 2017. The original blog can be found here.

Fall means football watching, apple picking, pumpkin everything – and the return of allergy season. As many as 23 million Americans are allergic to ragweed, the most common culprit in fall seasonal allergies, according to the Asthma and Allery Foundation of America (AAFA). Another seasonal allergy trigger is mold, which makes jumping in piles of golden-hued leaves something you may want to check off your fall bucket list.

Here are 5 ways to keep fall allergies in check:

Monitor Pollen Counts

Changes in the season can bring on an asthma or allergy attack due to increased pollen in the air. Prepare for the weather before you leave home by checking the pollen count and air quality index. Limit your time outdoors during high pollen days. Warm, windy, dry days can also be bad news for allergy sufferers.

Reduce Your Exposure

Short of staying indoors, to reduce your exposure to pollen, keep your home and car windows closed and the air conditioner running. Use high-efficiency filters labeled with a MERV (minimum efficiency reporting value) rating of 11 or 12. Change them every two or three months. If using standard filters, change them monthly.

Time Your Workouts

Complete outdoor workouts in the morning, before the winds pick up. When working in the yard, consider wearing a mask or asking a family member to do it, so as not to aggravate systems when raking leaves or mowing the lawn. This is especially important if you’re allergic to mold.

Shower Off Pollen

After spending time outside, rinse off and change your clothes. Shower to get allergens off you, so that you’re not bringing them into the house, and transferring them onto your furniture. That is very, very important. Consider investing in professional upholstery cleaning every year to help with fall allergies.

Vacuum Frequently

Many allergens thrive in the home environment. Dust is a prime example. Composed of a variety of pollutants including (but not limited to) dirt, pollen, pet dander, and dust mites, dust can rapidly accumulate. During peak allergy seasons, such as fall and spring, consider vacuuming:

Carpets and rugs at least once a week
High-traffic areas at least twice a week
Upholstered furniture, mattresses, and drapes regularly
Even more frequently if you’re a pet friendly home

Back to School Organization Tips

Leave a reply

back to school organization

*This blog is updated for 2017. The original blog can be found here.

Start the 2017-18 school year off right with these back to school organization tips.

Get Organized

Between the kids being home and trips to the park, lake and pool, there’s a good chance your home has been overtaken by “summer” stuff. As the kids head back to school, take the time to create a renewed sense of organization and order, whatever that means to you.

One of the best pieces of advice we can give is to go through your home, one room at a time, clearing out what you can. Torn inflatables? Toss them! Clothing that your kids have outgrown? Donate them! School supplies from last year? Keep them! Decluttering and subsequently organizing your home can help ensure a successful academic year.

Set Up a Homework Station

Creating a dedicated space in your home – whether off the kitchen or in their own bedrooms – can help kids improve their focus and develop proper study habits. This should be far away from TV screens and other distractions. Make sure they have access to plenty of pencils, sticky notes, scratch paper, and a computer if they need one.

Don’t forget to outfit him/her with a comfortable chair – homework requirements tend to only grow in volume the higher the grade level. A great tip is to invest in an electric pencil sharpener. Otherwise, be prepared to put up with pencil shavings all over the house, not to mention the mad search for a mechanical sharpener at homework time.

Designate a Command Center

An organized command center is essential for all things school related – backpacks, jackets, sports gear, lunch boxes, permission slips, crafts, textbooks, and on and on. It should be somewhere in the main-traffic-part of your home. In the kitchen or entryway are both good options. The closer you get to the “drop zone,” the better.

A chalkboard or whiteboard wall calendar is a must, and one that’ll ensure everyone knows what’s on the agenda for the week. Other things to consider for your command center include dinner menu, shopping list, schedule/routine, and in/out file storage for school papers. We recommend having one file for each person in the household.

Schedule to Have Your Carpets Cleaned

Make professional carpet cleaning part of your back to school organization routine. Carpet Cleaning Service AZ can help give your kids a clean and healthy environment to do their homework each night. In addition to professional carpet cleaning, we are proud to offer superior air duct, upholstery, and tile and grout cleaning services. Call 602-633-2015 or go online to schedule a time for us to come to your home.

When Pet Accidents Happen

Leave a reply

pet accidents

There are few things better than coming home from a stressful day at work to an excited dog or cat. More than just a furry, loyal companion, pets bring happiness and laughter to our lives. However, as most pet owners can vouch, accidents are bound to happen from time to time – especially if he/she is still perfecting their potty training skills. Fortunately, the pros at Carpet Cleaning Service AZ know a bit about rescuing solid carpets, rugs and upholstery.

Cleaning Up Pet Accidents

Your best defense is to blot up as much of the accident as you can using paper towels. The trick here is to do it as soon as you notice the mess. If solid, pick up using doggy bags, paper towels or a recycled grocery bag. Then, put a few drops of Dawn dish detergent and a little water on the area, applying pressure with another paper towel.

If you notice a mess that you believe happened earlier in the day, spray the area with vinegar and baking soda, and let sit overnight. Mix one cup distilled white vinegar with one cup water and two tablespoons baking soda in a spray bottle. Don’t be alarmed if the area bubbles; it simply signifies that the cleaning agent is working.

If you have a puppy or senior dog, you’ll definitely want to add this mixture to your cleaning arsenal! Store-bought pet odor and stain removers use the power of enzymes to do the work. Enzymes are proteins that help kick off natural chemical reactions at the molecular level.

Most are safe to use on carpets, furniture, wood floors, and clothing when used as directed. One of the best products available is Nature’s Miracle Advanced Stain and Odor Remover. There is no need to rinse this product. Simply let it do its job, dissolve, and dry. Always follow manufacturer directions.

Protecting Your Carpet

If they can smell their or their friend’s personal scent, pets will be attracted to the “accident zone,” where they’ll continually make fresh messes. To prevent future accidents, it’s important to get rid of any odor completely. You can do this by hiring a professional. Carpet cleaning professionals are specially trained to effectively remove pet odors and stains from carpets, bringing it back to a healthy state.